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Original poster

can anyone HONESTLY say they are doing this mask thing properly?

168 replies

RaspberryCoulis · 02/12/2020 11:09

Yes it's another mask one, sorry.

Most people where I live are complying with the compulsory face coverings, in settings where they are mandatory.

But nobody I know is doing it "properly" according to the government guidance.

Disposables - clean hands before putting it on, put it on, don't touch it, clean hands before taking it off, take it off, bin it, wash hands again.

Reusables - clean hands before putting it on, touch only the straps, remove after use and immediately place in sealed plastic bag, wash your hands, launder your mask.

Or do most people do as I do - have a range of paper and fabric masks in the door pocket of the car, coat pocket, handbag, in the boot. Grab whatever's nearest and use that. Chuck it in the wash when you remember. Is there ANYONE really doing the plastic bag thing or chucking out a paper mask after a quick 5 minute scoot round the local corner shop?

OP posts:
Jellykat · 02/12/2020 21:51

I'm doing it pretty well, always carrying 3 fabric masks, sanitizing hands before and after, only touching the elastic to put on/ take off.. and i keep in a bag in pocket at front of my bag.. oh i wash them at end of day, as i find they get wet after a while, which is vile.
Do i get a prize?

kittykat35 · 02/12/2020 21:54

Yes...because even pre covid I wore masks for work so I have been trained in how to use masks properly for a LOOONG time . It's really not rocket science though...there's a way of wearing them (the disposable ones) they are easily worn with safety glasses (and without them fogging up too!) I can't understand these ppl who complain about them being awkward and not being able to see etc etc it is 100% manageable...myself and my colleagues have been doing it for years...Confused

AurorasLighthouse · 02/12/2020 22:07

It depends, when I use public transport I'm pretty strict. When I'm at work I'm pretty hot on it. But when I'm nipping to the shops or doing the school run? Yes it's just whatever's in my pocket and I hand wash when I get home. I only use one mask per trip though. So if I do school run in a mask in the morning, I use a different mask in the afternoon, shove both in the wash and replace with new masks the next day. I have about 3 masks per day for a week now.

Babdoc · 02/12/2020 22:07

Agree with kittykat. I wore them in operating theatres for decades, so quite used to them. Stick one on every morning to go to the village shop for my newspaper and supplies. Get home, put it straight into plastic bag in bin and wash hands. Simple.
Once a week I drive into the city to my nearest supermarket. Mask on before I get out of the car. Disinfect the trolley handle, sanitise hands at shop door entering and leaving. Dispose of mask after I unload shopping at home.
It annoys me to see so many people wearing them as chin straps, with nose and mouth exposed, or pulling a used one out of a contaminated pocket and popping it off and on as they visit different shops.

yawnsvillex · 02/12/2020 22:10

@thecatneuterer

I'm certainly not. I'm doing it for 'show' and nothing else

SNAP!!! @thecatneuterer I was just the other day thinking this.

I literally put it on to prevent abuse hurled at me.

BecomeStronger · 02/12/2020 22:11

I'm trying. I put the used one in a separate pocket in my handbag. Only touch it using the ear loops. Wash hands after removing it.

Sometimes it has to be worn again before washing though becuase either I need a mask more than once in a day or I've forgotten to switch it for a fresh one.

ancientgran · 02/12/2020 22:14

I do. Well I don't do the plastic bag but that's because I'm not out much and so wear one mask while I'm out and take it off at home then it goes into a little bowl I keep by the sink, I put a little bit of bleach and washing up liquid in it, top up with boiling water and drop the mask in. My masks are triple layer white cotton and look nice and clean which they are. Obviously a bit more complicated if you are at work.

I'm actually planning on going Christmas shopping tomorrow so I will take 2 maks and a plastic bag, thanks for reminding me.

MeowMeowLikeACow · 02/12/2020 22:30

Nope. I go to the shops once or twice a week at the most and the mask I use for that lives in my coat pocket, though I do take it off by the straps. I do wash it occasionally.

For the school run I use a buff that I wear round my neck and pull over my nose to walk DD to the door because even though there is no scientific rationale behind the need for masks outdoors in time limited settings, our school have mandated them for parents dropping off and picking up. It's pure health theatre and I can't be arsed with faffing about with mask hygiene for that. I pull it off as soon as I'm off school property and it stays round my neck till pick up time at the moment as it's cold! I've murdered thousands by doing so.

TheyPavedParadise · 02/12/2020 22:42

@Babdoc

Agree with kittykat. I wore them in operating theatres for decades, so quite used to them. Stick one on every morning to go to the village shop for my newspaper and supplies. Get home, put it straight into plastic bag in bin and wash hands. Simple. Once a week I drive into the city to my nearest supermarket. Mask on before I get out of the car. Disinfect the trolley handle, sanitise hands at shop door entering and leaving. Dispose of mask after I unload shopping at home. It annoys me to see so many people wearing them as chin straps, with nose and mouth exposed, or pulling a used one out of a contaminated pocket and popping it off and on as they visit different shops.
Do you always wear disposable ones? I struggle with seeing all the excess waste.
starlight14 · 02/12/2020 22:45

@thecatneuterer

I'm certainly not. I'm doing it for 'show' and nothing else
Me too. All for show. My side compartment in my car is filled high must get rid of them with the reusable ones I am required to wear for going in and out of work. I also have reusable ones in pockets/bag.
BlondeCornish · 02/12/2020 23:07

My mask has more make up on it than my face - probably time it gets a wash...

nex18 · 03/12/2020 06:48

I wash them regularly but wear them just for show. I have spares in the car, coat pockets and in my bag. I shove it on going into the shop and pull it off as soon as I can and stick it back in my pocket.

Susanwouldntlikeit · 03/12/2020 06:51

The idea of ‘properly’ is laughable. There is no science behind it.
Like most oriole I know I will just pull a disposable out of a pocket or bag when I really have to fit minimum of time then pull it off and shove it back as before. Anything else it pointless waste of (even more) time.

Susanwouldntlikeit · 03/12/2020 06:53

I've murdered thousands by doing so
😂 same here -‘Let god sort them out’

elQuintoConyo · 03/12/2020 07:07

I put a fresh one one before I leave the house, remove it when I get home, either chick it or put it in the wash depending on the mask, then wash my hands.

I wear it one the communal stairs to my flat, the street, in shops, all through work.

I may adjust it over my nose because I wear glasses and they fog up/move while I'm teaching.

I'm in Spain, rules are stricter.

Those saying you've used one for months, or share with partners, of leave them festering in your car - makes me want to puke Envy

SionnachRua · 03/12/2020 07:11

No I don't. I use resusable ones that have a strap to hang around your neck. Mine go into the wash at the end of each day but I do use the same one for the day - just using it on and off.

Agree with the people saying that a lot of mask wearing is performative.

Original poster
RaspberryCoulis · 03/12/2020 07:42

I'd think it was fairly obvious that medical staff who have worn masks for years in professional settings are doing it exactly the way they have been trained to do. They probably don't think about it, it's automatic.

But on the other hand, being in an operating theatre with a patient sliced open on the table is a very different scenario from doing your shopping in Asda.

OP posts:
OutComeTheWolves · 03/12/2020 07:55

@thecatneuterer

I'm certainly not. I'm doing it for 'show' and nothing else
Same here.
ineedaholidaynow · 03/12/2020 08:03

@MrsMomoa how do you know you have never passed COVID on?

The Government have provided guidance for masks and how to wear them, in answer to someone who mentioned that.

I just hope that the PP who haven’t washed their masks for months etc aren’t as skanky with the rest of their laundry etc

TheyPavedParadise · 03/12/2020 08:10

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@MrsMomoa how do you know you have never passed COVID on?

The Government have provided guidance for masks and how to wear them, in answer to someone who mentioned that.

I just hope that the PP who haven’t washed their masks for months etc aren’t as skanky with the rest of their laundry etc[/quote]
Well I guess if you haven’t had any symptoms, and none of your household have had symptoms, and no one that you’ve had known contact with has then gone on to have any symptoms then you can take a fairly good guess that you haven’t passed Covid on.

TheyPavedParadise · 03/12/2020 08:10

Oh and no, I’m not as skanky with the rest of my laundry. Just masks.

CherryPavlova · 03/12/2020 08:24

Not quite.
Good supply of triple layer masks in a bag. Use once and into laundry bag in car. Use hand sanitizer.
Laundered at 60 degrees and ironed.

SufferingFromLongLockdown · 03/12/2020 08:25

Nope. I can manage 5-10 minutes before the panic attacks start, depending on what else is going on around me, so they're up and down like yo-yos.. proper hygiene would be impossible..

Sewsosew · 03/12/2020 08:27

No. I feel it’s just for show.
The chances of me having it are tiny.
However every young man I see doesn’t wear a mask and I expect they are mostly going about their lives and spreading it.

I went to tescos yesterday and every older person I saw had theirs under their nose. It’s a total waste of time.
I don’t see our numbers going down from wearing them. They have given a false sense when we should have concentrated on hand washing and distancing.

ineedaholidaynow · 03/12/2020 08:35

Maybe the numbers aren’t going down as people aren’t wearing them properly